Disinfectants are chemicals substances used in the destruction of harmful viruses and microbes such as fungi and bacteria. Disinfectants are used in various end-use industries due to its distinctive features of microbiological sterilization, as opposed to antiseptics, which only cause prevention instead of destruction of germs. Disinfectants such as air disinfectants, alcohol, aldehydes, oxidizing agents, phenolic, and ammonium compounds are widely used across various industries. Increasing number of patients suffering from infectious diseases such as influenza, tuberculosis, measles, and malaria, has propelled the increase in awareness regarding preventive measures and healthcare, in turn lending demand for disinfectants. The 2014 outbreak of Ebola was a major epidemic that significantly fueled demand for disinfectants. The outbreak of dengue in the eastern parts of India during 2011, 2013, and 2016 has also fueled demand and hence, boosted growth of the disinfectants market.

Concentration of various air pollutants are controlled by with the help of aerial disinfectants. Disinfectants that are used to destroy germs on floor and other surfaces are known as surface disinfectants, which are widely used in commercial as well noncommercial sectors, primarily as floor cleaners. Pond water and swimming pools are sanitized and waste water is treated for human usage, by water sanitizing disinfectants.

Outbreak of infectious diseases such as Ebola and Dengue has an immense impact on growth of the disinfectants market. The dramatic outbreak of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) during 2014 - 2016 affecting Sierra, Liberia, Nigeria, Guinea, U.S., U.K., Mali, Italy, Senegal, and Spain is one such instance. As per the data released by World Health Organization (WHO) in June 2016, 5,000 deaths were reported form over 10,000 reported cases EVD in Liberia.. This was followed by Sierra and Guinea, where more than 6,500 people died due to the Ebola outbreak, During and after this outbreak, consumer health concerns regarding infectious diseases increased, in turn creating high demand for disinfectants.. As per the statistics released by the National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme (India), 227 deaths were reported from 111,880 cases of dengue fever in the country, in 2016. This, also helped fuel the demand for disinfectants globally.

Asia Pacific is expected to be the fastest growing region in the disinfectants market, mainly due to the increasing prevalence of infectious diseases, with the growth in population, as well as growing health concerns in the region. Europe is projected to be the largest market for disinfectants over the forecast period, owing to high health awareness among the populace in the region and large concentration of end-use industries. Emerging economies such as India, China, and Brazil are majorly untapped markets that are expected to gain traction with shifting focus of increasing number of manufacturers in the regions. Manufacturers have also came up with the concept of ‘disinfectant sachets’ especially for the rural areas and noncommercial usage. For instance, DuPont introduced VIRKON S VIRUCIDAL disinfectant sachets especially for the Indian market.